> Trying to place Berlin as the whole of Europe is pretty unfair to the rest of Europe

I can't say that I've found the attitude of the companies in London or Amsterdam to be materially different from what was described. That doesn't mean that it is the whole of Europe, but I'm willing to doubt that it is an isolated cultural thing.

Given that we both have wildly differing experiences with London, I'm willing to grant that London might have unique and positive offers now (my experience is from at least 3-4 years ago) or that I have at the time completely missed the healthy companies.